Jamestown weekly alert. [volume], March 16, 1883, Image 2

About Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925

Image provided by: State Historical Society of North Dakota

                
The Alert
DAILY AND WEEKLY
MARSHALL MoCLURE.
A room for a public library is being
fitted up at Fargo.
A Valley City man IN making kindling
wood of flax seed soakeil with tar and
pressed into bricks.
Dakota uewspaper men assert that the
•weather-strip man has retired from busi­
ness in the territory, stored his stock and
is now selling awnings and mosquito
bars.
The Northern Pacific intend erecting
a large refrigerating establishment in
Billings in time for the tall trade. It will
he capacious enough to contain 150 beef
carcasses at onoe.
During the coming month a large num­
ber ot families will leave a single locality
in central Illinois for North Dakota. It
is estimated that they will carry with
them $1,000,000 in money alone.
The general impression among the
New York lawyers appears to be that the
British government cannot make out a
case against P. J. Sheridan under the
treaty, consequently there is no danger of
his extradition.
It is reported that Walker Blaine, son
of ex-Secretary Blaine, will marry Miss
Emily i3ea]«, daughter of General Beale,
of Washington, the classmate and army
chum of General Grant. The event is
underlined to lake place after Lent.
The Index says that Simon Roth who
came to his death in the Terra mine re­
cently, was killed by a piece of rock
weighing about 1,000 pounds, which
struck him on the head, wedging him
against a timber, cracking his skull and
breaking his jawbone and left leg.
Pargo Argus: The appointment of
Captain B. F. Spalding as one of the new
capital commissioners is creditable to Air.
Roberts as well as his former partner,
through Vhose influence it is said to have
been made. Capt. Spalding is the present
superintendent of schools and has the
confidence of all who known him as an
upright and honest man and a thorough
going Fargoite.
The statistical agent of the depart't of
agriculture in London reports the contin­
ued rains and floods area great injury to
the wheat crop. The area is reduced and
much resowing will be necessary. There
is much alarm at the foot and mouth dis­
ease among cattle. Local fairs through­
out Great Britain have been closed, and
orders in council prevent the movement
of farm animals from Scotland to Ireland
until March 31st.
No mails from north of Chicago have
been received at Deadwood, the Black
Hills capital, for upwards of four wee£s,
owing to the snow blockade and there is
considerable kicking among the Dead
wooders at the delay. It is the same old
story that is heard every winter. North
Dakota and the Noathern Pacific are con­
tinuously open for traffic, while the
southern and southwestern portions of
the territory usually have a snow block­
ade of weeks or months, as the case may
be.
When the Northern Pacific trains reach
the Pacific coast, it will be found that
there has been progress in the western
terminus as well as in the center of the
road. In ten years Portland has tripled
its population from 12,000 in '72 to be­
tween 30,000 and 40,000 in
:S2.
During
the last year $4,000,000 was invested in
new buildings its wholesale trade
amounted to $40,000,000 it exports to
$23,000,000. The lumber interest on
Puget Sound is a most important industry
and its mills are nearly all lighted by
electricity.
Brookings Press: A very sad accident
took place on a snow bound passenger
train at Sleepy Eye one day ia9t week. A
gentlemen and wife and eight little girls
were among the passengers. The father
was taken sick and died in the car, leav­
ing his wife and children without means.
A purse of forty-five dollars was raised
for her among the passengers, and we
understand the railroad company will
treat her kindly. They had a car of stock
and emigrant goods on the road, but only
money enough to pay freight and passage
to Pierre.
On the 8th of February the rails were
piked down on the summit of the Boze
man Pass, an altitude of 5,710 feet, the
bightcst point on the whole line of the
Northern Pacific railroad. During the
excessively cold weather of January and
February the operations were suspended
only about three days. There are only
four tunnels on the mam line of the
Northern Pacific railroad, namely, Big
Horn, Bozeman, Mullen and Little Black
foot. In the Bozeman nearly five hun­
dred feet have been excavated at each end
of the tunnel, and about six feet daily
is finished both east and west work­
ings.
The Chicago Inter-Ocean charges that
the revivalist Harrison, otherwise known
as the "boy preacher," almost everywhere
he goes he gets into a row about his pay.
"He charges $100 per week for leading
lost sheep into the fold, and insists upon
payment in advance. While in Decatur
he made short trips mta neighboring
towns to hold single meetings for which
his terms are $25, and when the commit­
tee on finance attempted to deduct the
amount he bad received for outside meet­
ings while he was in their employment,
to use an ungodly expression, he 'kicked,'
and demanded the full price per week,
whether he gave full service or not."
The question which arose some years
ago in London aa to how high landlords
should be allowed to erect tenement
buildiogs, has been raised in New York,
where the adjetning owners asked for aa
injection against the building of the
eleven story tenement on the comer
Twenty-eighth street and Broadway.
Judge Ikaat denied the injunction in
cwfornaet tatite English decisions,but
CB grounds which wane net in the merits
of the New York CM*. The English
case* tamed ibe point
ot
life if tenants
danger to
York it is becoming a serious question
whether high buildings will not com­
pletely shut out light and fresh air from
streets already inconveniently narrow.
Indian Commissioner Price has ordered
that all squatters on Cr»w Creek reserva­
tion be removed, and the Indian police
are hustling them oil in a lively manner.
Relegate Pettigrew has succceded in
inducing the commissioner of agriculture
to set aside a portion of the fund appro­
priated by congress for sinking artesian
wells, for expenditure in tlie territory.
Wells will accordingly be sunk on the
line.of the Northern Pacific and the
wagon road from Pierre to the Black
Hills.
Minneapolis Joural: The people of
Yankton, D. T., are so mad with Gov.
Ordway for favoring the removal of the
capital that they talk of running him out
of the territory. Dakota, however, is a
pretty sizeable place, and the governor
will have plenty of room to dodge the
fierce Yanktonnais. Perhaps the excr
cise might be salutary in reducing the
governor's flesh.
The commissioners of the insane a»y
um at this place having been appointed
it is presumable that the bill passed,
though we have had no official informa­
tion to that effect. Such \j public institu­
tion will add considerable prestige to the
name and fame of Jamestown abroad,
and be of material benefit to our business
interests in many ways. As it was mainly
through the efforts of Councilman Nikeus
that this was obtained, lie is entitled to
the praise that, is due for it.
Of all subjects of calculation that of
the state or condition of the weather at a
future time is perhaps the most difficult.
It is true that storms are governed by
laws and causes, but when and where a
cause will arise is the question. Meteor­
ologists can explain with reasonable sat­
isfaction the cause of a storm after it has
occurred, but they all tike a leap in the
dark when they undertake to foretel the
coming of a storm, because, as we have
said, it is impossible to calculate when or
where the cause will arise. People are
more or less superstitious, however much
they may resent the imputation. The
awe of mystery is not eradicated from the
human mind vet. Hundreds of thousands
of people looked with more or less fear and
trembling to the time appointed by Prof.
Wiggins for a terrible tempest to sweep
over this continent. The prophecy failed
and he is branded a fraud and scoffed a
crank all over the country. There is no
doubt the professor has made the subject
one of deep and scientific study, and is
perhaps as thoroughly versed and as sci
entifically learned in meteorology as any
man on this continent, but he went be­
yond his depth. In his enthusiasm his
mind became overbalanced.
PROHIBITION.
The subject of prohibition is one that
has engaged the study of statesmen and
political economists for ages past and is
still an open and unsettled question
There is an inate desire in human nature
for liberty of thought and action that re
sists encroachment and restraint. Pro­
hibition is right in so far as is necessary
to protect the political and natural rights
of the people as a whole. The whole is
greater Uian any of its parts is a funda­
mental and essential principle of just
government, and that individual liberty
should be restricted so as to protect the
lights of all is essential to the existence
of government. Prohibition can only be
enforced so far as it is sustained by public
opinion. A law that has not this support
is a dead letter no matter how explicit its
provisions may be.
The time may come when public senti­
ment will sustain and on force a prohibit­
ory liquor law. The overwhelming re­
vulsion of public sentiment in Kansas as
expressed at the polls last fall after a
trial of such a law would seem to indicate
that the time has not yet comc. It is true
the popular vote of Iowa last summer
was largely in favor of the prohibitory
amendment to the state constitution, but
the vote of Kansas must be regarded as
the stronger argument because after a
trial they voted it down. In the Iowa
election the people voted upon the theory,
in Kansas they voted upon the practical
question.
There are two opposintr elements that
will combine to bring about or defeat the
incorporation of the prohibition theory
into our statute laws, and they are the
fanatics on either side of the question.
The one that most disgusts the masses of
the people who stand between these ex­
treme factions cau turn the scale the
other way. In Iowa the whisky sellers
seem to have conducted their business
in such away as to have given the pro­
hibitionists the ascendancy and in Kansas
the rebuke was given the prohibitionists.
These factions seem to exert an influence
and the people decide for or against them
as a choice between two evils, or as a re
buk*» to one or the other rather than en­
dorsement of either.
Carrington Items.
The new post office butlding in Car
rington will soon be ready for occupan­
cy.
Contractor Cole is pushing work on
his large store in Carrington as fast as
the weather permits.
Carrington, the county seat of Foster
county is the only town of importance on
the Jamestown & Northern liy. It bids
fair to be one of the most pro iperous new
towns in North Dakota.
The town of Carrington is the present
terminus of the Jamestown & Northern
railroad. It will therefore be the trading
point this summer for all settlers in a
large area of the surrounding country,
both in Foster and iq Wells counties.
Tbe merchants will probably do a large
business.
Tbe breaking of several thousand acres
of land in Foster county this season by
the CarringUm & Casey Land Co., will
be a good thing for Carrington. The
land will be rented in small farms of
quarter and balf sections, tbu*
adding
many families to the population of the
county. Carrington will be tbe nearest
"i.
LOCAL AFFA RS
From Sunday's Dally.
-Unwarranted Assumption.
The attack of the Capital last evening
upon Sheriff McKcchnic was uncalled for
bv the circumstances and unscrupulous
as regards facts. It was based upon as­
sumptions that have no foundation eith­
er in fact or reasonable presumption, and
it is but another of the many instances of
one-sided fanaticism that are character­
istic of that sheet. It is the old puritani­
cal spirit that judged and condemned per­
sons upon the mere imagination or super­
stition of the accuser. If it was only an
attack upon Mr. McKeclmie as an di­
vidual it would be a personal matter be­
tween him and tlie editor in which neith
er the Alert nor the public would have
any special concern. As a man Mr.
McKeclmie stands upon his record in this
community where he has been a citizen
from its earliest settlement, and the es­
teem in which lie is held by the peop'e
shows that the attacks of a man who has
but recently put in an appearance here to
enjoy the fruit of the labor and depriva­
tions endured by the old-timers, would
have but little weight if any at all. But
the paper goes out to the people in dis­
tant suites and gives out the impression
that Jamestown maintains dens of vice,
gambling and robbery with the conniv­
ance and collusion of the sheriff of the
county. Tliis must necessarily create a
false- as well as bad impression among
eastern people who contemplate making
their homes with their families in the
northwest, and the result will be to prej­
udice emmigiants against our town.
This would be bad enongh if based upon
facts, but is still more reprehensible when
eased upon false pretensions The sher­
iff of Stutsman county is not a gambler,
but is universally recognized as a good
citizen and an honorable man, then by
what right does this new-comer among
us assume that he "knows" of the exist­
ence of such dens of iniquity as lie tells
about. If the Capital man "knows" of
these places as he says he docs it is his
duty as a good citizen, as a man who
practices what he preaches, to make
legal complaint before a proper court and
not shirk the responsibility by assuming
thai Sheriff McKeclmie or any one else is
derelict duty for not doing so.
The Jamestown & Northern.
The Northern Pacific railroad company
have completed contracts for the grading
of 50 miles on each of the Devil's Laka
and Mouse River branches from Carring­
ton, the work to be finished by September
tirst. The company will iron and equip
the lines and have them in operation this
vear. Material is.already jjeing contract­
ed for the roads and track layers will fol­
low as close on to the heels of the graders
as circumstances will permit aud the con­
struction will be pushed forward witn
he greatest rapidity possible. The
Mouse liiver line will open up for settle­
ment some of the best agricultural lands
in Nojth Dakota aud settlers who have
not yet exercised their land rights
will have an excellent opportunity to ob­
tain land that will make them wealthy
and prosperous in a short time. Coal
and timber is to be found along the
Mouse liiver road in large quantities and
this in addition to the beautiful and fer­
tile soii will rapidly increase in value and
furnish happy homes and employment to
tnousands of people very noon. Farms
will be opened there this spring and a
general activity in all branches of indus­
try will be witnessed the coming summer
Several sprightly settlements are already
existence and with the advent of the
iron horse towns and villages will spring
up. The report reaches the Alert that
the Manitoba intend extending their line
to tlie Mouse river country this year and
the construction will be commenced as
soon as the snow has disappeared. There
promises to be a lively struggle between
the Manitoba and the Northern Pacific
folks to reach that part of the northwest
lirst with their railroad extensions. The
Devil's Lake branch will be built ten
miles north of Devil's Lake this summer
aud possibly further. Messrs. Walker
Bly have the contract for the grading
of 50 miles and will commence work early
in the season. The company have over
100,000 ties at Carrington now for this
railroad and will send forward two trains
of material early next month for its com­
pletion. The country on each side of the
Devil's Lake extension is of the besj
quality for agricultural and graziDg pur
poses and the immense amount of immi­
gration that is pouring into North Dako­
ta will settle up the vacant lands with an
astonishing rapidity. A stage line will
be put on the first of April be­
tween Carrington and Devil's Lake and
the Northern Pacific company will use
every effort in their power to induce
travel for that district via Jamestown and
Carring'on and arc taking the initiatory
steps in that direction by advertisug the
Jamestown & Northern as the most direct
and quickest route.
Pnt on tbe Brakes.
"Broad is the road that leads to destruc­
tion and many there be that walk there­
in." The foregoing idea has a practical
illustration in the every day life oi tbe
human family. We see them on every
hand and in every grade of society, from
the wealthy and the cultured to tbe poor­
est and most ignorant, and if there can be
any extenuating circumstances they must
be in favor of those of the latter classes,
they having the less light upon the sub­
ject. Ignorance of tbe law of the land
excuses no one nor are tbe consequences
of moral degeneracy withheld from any
one on account of ignorance.
It is painful to witness tbe downward
course of any man, for the ambition of
every one should be to attain to a higher
plane. But few take the downward
course from actual choice, and while
many travel the broad road few realize it.
It may be in drink, in gambling, in var­
ious vicious habits that are destructive of
body and soul. Like the insidious dis­
ease of consumption, they prey upon a
vital principle, thai of ^elf-respect, until
UM victim iarwaUowed up is UM driarto*
of security, and when too late to recover,
discovers that all is lost.
These dangers beset life's pilgrimage
on every hand and it behooves the pil­
grim to be well on his guaid, and when
he finds himselt on the down grade to put
on the brakes for there is destruction at
the end of the line. This life was de­
signed to be earth and not heaven. It is
a school of instruction by experience in
which none arc so stupid they cannot
learn. He who profits most by these les­
sons of experience cither of himself or
others makes the most of life. You have
the roads set before you and you may
make your choice and take the conse­
quences. As you make your own choice
you can only hold yourself responsible
for the consequence, and that fact is the
sting of a misappropriated life and oppor­
tunities.
"Of all the sad words of tongue or pen
The saddest ale these: It might have
been."
Killed by Train.
The mangled body of a man named
Robert Hardin, of Andrews, Huntington
county, Ind., was brought into town a^out
2 o'clock last night by the cast b'ound
and belated passengei train. It appears
that he was a passenger on the west bound
train that, passed through here yesterday
evening, which train side tracked at
Cleveland for a short time on account of
a wreck. The train coming east also side
tracked at that place, and when the
switchman went to ch .nge the switch he
fonnd the mangled body of the man lying
near it, a.id it is supposed lie was killed
by the west bound,' on which he was a
passenger, unknown to any one on the
train. The body was brought here and
upon being notified of the fact Coroner
Eager impaneied a jury consisting of M.
E. Foley, L. B, Miner and T. W. Fields,
and proceeded to hold an inquest. De­
ceased appeared to be about 55 years of
age, was well dressed, and from papers
found upon his person his name was
found to be as above given. He had a
pass to Muir City, Montana, where lie
was evidently bound, a letter found on
his person indicating that he had a son at
that place. Considerable money was
found on his person. The son was in­
formed by telegraph of the sad event.
Following is the verdict of the coroner's
jury last night in the case of the inquest
into the manner by which Robert Hardin
came to his death:
Robert Hardin came to liis death acci
dentlly by being run over by the western
bouud passenger train at Medina, D. T.,
March 10. L. B. MIXER,
M. E. FOLEY,
T. W. FIELKS,
Jury.
From Tuesday's Dailj
Hon. E. P. Wells Interviewed.
Hon. E. P. Wells, who has been spend
ing the winter in Yankton, and who
is charged with having figured quite con­
spicuously in the capital removal scheme,
arrived yesterday and bad not more than
become comfortably sealed in the elegant­
ly furnished office of the James liiver
National bank when an Alert reporter
inquired if he could have the pleasure of
interviewing liiin upon the capital and
other public measure. Being informed that
our request would be granted we were
soon busily engaged in plying the pro­
fessional |u p. The following is a ver­
batim report of the questions and an­
swers:
REPORTER—Since you have, been to
Ya"nkton, Mr. Wells, it is understood by
some of the people of Jamestown that
you have been figuring conspicuously in
the capital-removal scheme: perhaps you
would be willing to give the citizens of
Jamestown and the readers of the Alert
the means by Which it w:is brought about.
MR. WELLS—If there is any impression
existing that 1 have been prominently
identified with the removal movement it
is a mistake. My visit to Yankton was
purely one of pleasure and recreation. Of
couise, being there, 1 have watched
closely, and with the natural interest of a
citizen of the territory, the shifting scenes
that have followed each other with great
rapidity during the past two weeks. The
first bill introduced looking to the re­
moval of the capita] was, in my opinion,
never intended seriously to accomplish
that purpose. But the result was natural.
Huron, Pierre, Mitchell, Chamberlain and
other ambitious towns, located not
far from the natural center of Southern
Dakota—each sent forward delegations
to bid and lobby for their respective in­
terests. The subject assumed a serious
aspect, in which the railroads of South­
ern Dakota took a prominent hand.
This was followed by a period of bitter
strife, the chaotic confusion out of which
grew, however, a strong sentiment favor­
able to removal. But the difficulty in
selecting amongst so many rivals was so
great, that other methods for reaching
the result was seen to be necessary. Out
of this condition of affairs grew the first
thought of a commission to be selected
for that specific purpose. Some of the
stronger advocates of the immediate re­
moval, justified their cause by the claim,
which 1 believe to be true and correct,—
that the territory could secure larger ben­
efits as an equivalent for ti location of
the capital in the present "boom times,"
than would likely to be possible again,
perhaps, for many years reasoning that
the present excitement in townsite specu­
lation will not be permanent. Tbe
commission scheme became at
once popular from very natural
causes. It would still leave the matter
open for a time to bids and applications,
and thus harmonize many of the floating
elements represented at Yankton. It
would give time in which men especially
selected for the purpose to examine the
merits of tbe different towns seeking the
honor, and give to all a fair chance. T{.e
experience of Nebraska was fresh in the
minds of the members of the present
legislative assembly, and the fact well
known that out of a similar method for
locating their capital. Nebraska bad se­
cured something over a half million dol­
lars return. Certain portions of the press
of the country have been loud in their
denunciation of the scheme, and free in
making charges of undue influence and
of corruption. It is only necessary
ft itatf (bet the associated prow agent at
Yankton is a Yankton man, whose whole
interests are ceiilurcd there, and whose
occupation will be gone when the capital
shall have been removed. 1 believe that
no corrupt means were used in any in
tercsts in seedling the results that were
accomplished, and I believe that the in­
telligent sentiment of the territory
will heirtily approve the course of th.i
legislature and the governor in this move­
ment for ihe removal of the capital to
some point, more central and offering
greater advantages, so soon as the real
benefits shall become known.
REPORTER—The Pioneer Press of Sat­
urday criticises the measure, and gives a
brief synopsis of the leading features of
the bill creating the commission. Is that
statement correct as to facts in detail?
MR. WELI.S—No. It is anything but
correct, in every essential fact. The Pio­
neer Press states that the territory shall
receive hut "§100,000 and twenty acres of
land," while the bill especially provides
that the commissioners shall require as a
condition to the location of the capital
"not lass than $100, 00 and 160 acres of
land." The same paper states that the
commissioners are to "receive $10 per
day
cach and expenses, beginning with the
date of their appointment, and continu­
ing until the next session of the legisla­
ture, two years from this time, "which
would amount to about $60,000 and ex­
penses," whill the bill actually provides
that each commissioner shall re
ceive "$6 per day for such
time only as he shall necessarily
employed exclusively in the service of
the territory, and that the aggregate sum
of money to be drawn by the entire board
of commissioners for services and expen­
ses shall not exceed $10,000," in any
event. Tlie bill further provides that
CHCII commissioner shall give a bond in
the sum of $40,000 that no commissioner
shall purchase, receive or be directly or
indirectly interested in the ownership, or
the profits resulting from the ownership
of any property within ten miles of the
location of the capita1 and that any Vio­
lation of this or any other provision of the
lull by a commissioner shall make him
criminally liable shall work a forfeiture
to the territory of his $40,000 bond, and
subject him to imprisonment in the peni­
tentiary for a period not less than three,
nor more than five, years.
REPORTER.—It is believed by some that
there was a strong syndicate organized
for the purpose of speculation, and that
this syndicate has been a propelling power
to secure the appointment of the commis­
sion. Do you know of any such organi­
zation?
MR. WELLS.—I don't know of any
such syndicate, and don't believe that
such a one exists. Such charges were
made freely by the Yankton people and
their friends, whs hesitate at no charge
to bring the bill into ill repute but were
it true that such a syndicate were formed
with such a purpose, unless improper
collusion with tne commissioners could
lie proven, 1 can't see where any possible
wrong is done the territory, should the
people of Huron pay the territory $100,000
for the location of the capitol at that
place, it would be, provided no larger
bid were made, and the location were
suitable, no objection to the location of
the capital at Huron, because the proper­
ty owners there would profit by such lo­
cation. Should any man or association
of men make a larger offer for the loca­
tion of the capitol at a point every way
su.table then should every bid in
other towns—the fact of their profiting
by the selection of their place should
have no hearing on the case.
REPORTER.—Have you anv idea as to
the probable location of the capital that
will be selected by the commissioners?
MR. WELLS.—None, whatever. The
commissioners have had no meeting—
have not qualified—nor filed their bonds.
The impression prevailing amongst mem­
bers of the legislature and others present,
and at Yankton, was that the location of
the capital should,or probably would be,at
some point central to Southern Dakota,
and easily accessible-by all tha railroads
in Southern Dakota. My own impression
is that it will be at some point with­
in the te ntory, bounded by the 44th
parallel on the south and the 45th par­
allel on the north, and between the
James and Missouri rivers.
REPORTER.—From all reports, James­
town seems to be well represented in the
last legislature?
MR. WELLS.—With all defference to
the representatives from other localities,
I think it is only fair to say that the re­
presentative from Jamestown was the
conceded leader of the council. His
readiness in debate, his convincing man­
ner in argument, and his genial
social qualities, united in
carrying him, at a very early day, over
the heads of more experienced legislators,
and to a front rank in the body of which
he was a member. The results of the
past session has convinced all observers
that the North Dakota delegation held
the winning hand throughout, and the
Fourteenth legislative district has reason
to feel more than satisfied with its repre­
sentative there. That Mr. Nickeus held
the position claimed for bim, and made
the opportunities which it gave, is well
proven by the fact that Jamestown se­
cured through his efforts, and against a
determined fight, the hospital for tbe in­
sane, with an appropriation of $60,000,
city charter, and representatives on sev­
eral of the most important board* and
commissions in the territory.
(Official.)
Proceedings of the Board af Connty Cam
miswmers.
JAMESTOWN, D. T. March 12,1883.
Proceedings of tbe board of County
Commissioners in session at 10 o'clock a.
m., March 12, 1883.
Present—Moran and Woodbuiy.
Woodbury in the chair.
Mitwtes of the last meeting read and
corrected.
The following bids for raising 6th av­
enue bridge in Jamestown were opened,
and were as follows: 1
Z. 8. Martin J. $210.00
P. Aubertin 1 270.00
A. McKechnie 268.00
The bid ot Z. 8. Martin being the low
Mt, on motion waa aoce^tedaabjaot to ac­
ceptance of board for completion of the
work.
On motion the following bids were al­
lowed.
T. F. Branch, for making plans
and specifications of bridges. .$ 56.00
John F. Vennnm, lor material for
the Flint bridge,so-called.... 1,290.00
John F. Veunum, for material for
the 5th street bridge 625.00
John F. Vennnm, road viewing
and team, 14.00
Grinun, Geiseler & Co.. goods fur­
nished the county, 3.80
On motion Jno. i)'. Vennutn was allow­
ed connty order for $1,000, as part pay
on the Denver Creek bridge contract.
On motion supervisors order No.— was
cancelled and county order issued $0.00.
The hoard was notified of the appoint­
ment of Chas. T. Hills as clerk of ll:e
District Court.
Mr. Hills appeared before the board
and presented his nond which was ap­
proved.
On motion Henry Vessey, of Eldiidge,
was appointed Justice of the Peace in
and for the county.
On motion Chas. O. Francis, of Spirit
wood was appointed Justicc of the Peace
in and for the county.
Board Adjourned to examine bridges to
meet at 2:30 o'clock, p. m.
Z. Martin presented bond of $200 for
the faithful completion of raising 6th ave.
bridge.
On motion bond approved.
On motion P. Aubertin was allowed
county order for $300 part pay on mill
bridge contract.
Chas. O. Francis presented bond aud
qualified as justice of the peace.
On motion bond approved.
On motion board adjourned til 10
o'clock a. m., March 26, 18S3.
L. B. MINER,
County Clerk.
Claim Jnraper Shot.
Peter J. Book, brother of the German
who was murdered by the Trumballs last
summer, yesterday evening shot and
killed Steve Welsh ou a claim in Little
Heari Valley. Welch had attempted to
jump Book's claim and recently or­
dered Book to leave the same at the muz­
zle of his gun. Yesterday, Book was en­
gaged on the claim rolling logs intending
to move upon higher ground. Suddenly
a shot was fired which struck his cap
Six more shots followed when a man ran
from behind «,he logs whom Book recog­
nized as Welsh. Book fired and Welsh
fell dead. Book surrendered himself to
the authorities and his examination will
take place to-day.
From Wednesday's Dally.
Hon. Johnson Nickeus Interviewed.
Hon. Johnson Nickeus,who has so ably
represented his constituency at Yankton
during the session of the legislature, just,
past, returned home yesterday, and of
courite the Alert was not far oil when he
alighted from his elegant carriage at the
door of his beautiful residence on Third
avenue.
Having gained an enterancc the Alert
news man was received very kindly and
to the enquiry if he could nave the honor
of an interview, Mr. Nickeus replied that
it has never been his policy to turn the
hungry from his door, providing it lay in
his power to serve them. Dropping into
antiasy chair wi began:
REPORTER.—Mr. Nickeus, as yon are
our representative in the terril rial coun­
cil, the readers of the Alert as well as the
public,generally will,no doubt, be pleased
to read your views upon the several im­
portant measures that have occupied the
attention of the legislature during the
past winter, prominent among which I
might first mention the capital removal
scheme, as it is sometimes called?
MR. NICKEUS—Upon my arrival iu
Yankton I found that a feeling of genera]
dissatisfaction was prevailing, and soon
learned that it was largely due to an un­
reasonable degree oi inhospitality toward
the members of the legislature on the
part ot Yankton hotels, which had, as
it appeared, entered into some kind of an
arrangement to charge $14 per week for
board, This sentiment of extreme and
unwarranted hoggishness did not always
stop with the hotels but in some eases ex­
tended to other citizens of Yankton
which together with the well established
fact that the hotel accommodations were
very inadquate to the demands made up­
on them from tunc to time by the legis­
lature, and in view of the fact that no
disposition had ever been made to im­
prove them, was thought to be, when
coupled with the tact that Yankton bad no
railroad, stage or other accommodations
for getting in or out of it, afforded suffi­
cient reasons for considering the removal
of the capital and no doubt had some­
thing to do with it. Notwithstanding, it
is a fact that when tbe Huron bill was
first introduced it was regarded by a
large portion of the members as a joke
and it was not until the people of
Yankton began to howl and throw mud
at members from North Dakota that the
measure began to receive a serious
consideration. Right in the wake
of the Yankton element followed a vig­
orous fight between Huron, Piere and
Frankfort for supremacy. (Personally 1
was in favor of Huron on the James river
for tbe reason that such a location would
unquestionably assure Jamestown anoth
er line of road extending southward
down the valley. The fight having be­
gun from all quarters, the only thing that
could be done with any degree of satis­
faction to the different localities was not
to locate it any particular point, but to
put the matter into the hands of a board
of commissioners who would be able to
give them another chance by means of
bidding for it. All these reports about
bribery, corruption, etc., came mostly
from the people of Yankton who never
lost an opportunity to cast a shadow
upon the ch«ract.^ of any mentor whom
they could not control. Up to this time
no syndicate has been formed and the
absence of the necessaiy documents
which must be filed at the secretary's of
fice will prove this assertion. So far as 1
know no syndicate of any kind is in ex­
istence. Of course no capitol site was
ever selected or a capitol removed with­
out affording some one an opportunity to,
make something out uf it. {t is hut
MtwftlfQr W» ad iqna information
and I presume that the person or persons
who are so fortuuate as to learn the exact
location of the capitol, will make sor.e
money and so far as I ar.» concerned A do
not care if they do. But so far as jribery
is concerned I am sure there has never
been any.
Out of the majority of the commission­
ers chosen to locate the capitol, only
three out of nine of them were present
at any time during the legislative pro­
ceedings. These commissioners were
placed there by friends in aiid out of the
council and it would be only wise to pre­
sume that they will let their friends not
strangers Know where the seat of govern
mem is to be located, and as I remarked
before, 1 hope they will make something
out of it. liy the way 1 notice that Mr.
Wells is thought to have been somewhat
interested in ihe measure. The charge is
but natural. Mr. Wells stood Iy North
Dukoia all the way through and it is ac­
knowledged at he was the brightest
man in the last house of representatives,
and knowing perhaps more prominent
men who were connected with the affairs
of the government than most any other
man at Yankton, it was thought
he was interested in everything
North Dakota members were accused
of. Nothing came up affecting
North Dakota but what he joined with
the solid north.
Rep.—Do you know anything definite
about the future seat of government?
MR. NICKEUS.—No, but I think it will
be located in Central South Dakota near
the James liiver and 1 shall use every
reasonable effort to bring about that re
suit so far as my influence goes, for that
would insure us another line of road
Rep—What effect, if any, will the loci
tion of the different institutions through­
out North Dakota have upon the division
of the territory?
Mn. NICKEUS—None.
Rep—Why did you hesitate about giv­
ing Jamestown anything?
MR. NICKEUS—Well, in the first place,
I have personally great faith in division,
and in case such a thing should happ n,
owing to our location and popularity, we
have a better chance for the location of
the capital than any other point in North
Dakota, provided we had not got all
!.ve
were justly entitled to. This is why 1 hes­
itated. 1 was willing 1o lay everything
aside for the capital. Therefore 1
did all
in my power to assist Grand Forks and
Bismarck so as to have them get what
they wanted, and by getting be placed in
a position where they could not in fair­
ness ask for more. I will not mention
Fargo, as she is to far out of the ange of
reasonable location to offer any opposi­
tion whatever. But all the time I kept
the asylum within my reach, and ns 1
came to the conclusion, toward the end of
the session, that a matter of such minor
importance could work us no injury, 1
gathered it in.
Rep—1. notice that Mr. Wells has been
appointed one of the territorial tax com­
missioners. Will you please explain their
duties?
MR. NICKEUS—Certainly. This is one
of the best and most important measures
considered by the legislature. Their
duties will be to ascertain bv invesigation
what proportion of property there is in
the territory escaping taxation, and the
best method of equalizing taxes. It is
believed ih it there is no less thau twenty
or twenty-live millions of dollars taxa­
ble property ihe ii iritory escaping ihe
assessors' lists annually, and it is believed
that one-half of iiiis vast am itiiit is
in the Black Hills.
Rep—I notice that the -lap irs indicate
that you have secured several appoint­
ments on important hoards from niiiong
your friends. Who are they and where
will they serve?
MR. NICKEUS—First, Mr. Alexander
McKenzic, of Bismarck, gels on the capi­
tal commission second, lie/. N. 1). Fan­
ning, of Jamestown, was appointed re­
gent of the Vermillion university, in
which he will probably accept a professor­
ship third, George W. Vennum is ap­
pointed trustee of the Agricultural
collage at Fargo fourth, Louis Lyo-i, F.
E. Jones and C. G. Cushing, of Valley
City, as trustees of the Jamestown insane
asylum, win, with three other nu mbers,
will have control of the affairs of the in­
stitution. Last and the most important
of all was the appointment of Hon. E. P.*
Wells, of this city, to a membership of
the tax investigation board, with Judge
Bennett and Attorney Palmer, of Yank­
ton, as associates.
At this point the Alert scribe appologized
for keeping his subject so long from the.
socicty of his interesting family, which ue
had not seen for nearly three months-., and
withdrew.
Mr. Nickeus Serenaded-,
An impromptu serenade and welcome
was tendered Hon. Johnson iVickeu* last
night. Although the streets were si .ppy
a large number of our citizens, accom­
panied by the band, assembled in front of
his residence when J. J. Flintmiuty a
very happy aud appropriate speech of
welcome, among other things commend­
ing the course of Mr. Nickeus as a mem­
ber of the territorial council and assuring
him that his constituents still hat tbe
same confidence in bim they had in bis.
election. Mr. Nickeus responded ir4»
brief 8
pee
A recounting some of the nork
of the legislature and assuring the ,e»ple
that the happiest n.oment of bis
was-.
the assurance of their approval of the
manner in which he had r.presented
them and turther that there was no spot
on earth he loved so well as Jamestown.
After a few tunes by th3 hand and tbe
firing of several rounds by improvised
cannon the company disbanded.
Lisbon has a case of foul plnv. A
Swede, half witted, working for his
brother-in-law at chopping wood, was
found in the barn, where he was'co®^
pel led to slpep, frozen to death. Jfoe
heels, ends of lingers, ears and othoitiwta.
of the body indicated that they i^n
frozen at different times, and tfc-unh? de­
ceased bad been compelled t» \v::rk in
this condition, nil death put on e,,d to
his suffering. The case is being in ,-esU
IP'W-
S72ri^i J'?* flay at hom- ea«fh- ortt
AMNM True
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